Glyceryl Alginate
AKA: Glycerol Alginate, Alginic Acid Glyceride
Synthetic
Occlusive
Marine
Not Clean
1,2,3-Propanetriol, esters with alginic acid
Form
Powder
Functions
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Viscosity Controlling
Moisturizing
Strengthens Barrier
Anti-Inflammatory
Creates protective layer
Controls product thickness
Traditional Use
A modern synthetic derivative of alginic acid (from brown seaweed) and glycerin developed in the 20th century. While alginate has traditional use in food and medicine, this ester was created specifically for cosmetic thickening and film-forming.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
Dermal absorption: 2%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 680).
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR